GF sports & aquatics center planning advances
The Grand Forks Park District is crunching the latest data on a proposed Indoor Sports Complex and Aquatic Center.
The consulting firm Berry Dunn/GreenPlay has compiled the public responses from 9 stakeholder groups – including a webinar that included 77 participants. Most of those responding to the survey believe the facility should house both aquatics and indoor sports.
On the aquatics front the top three priorities include: lap swimming…swim lessons…and swimming/diving.
When it comes to indoor turf the top two picks: soccer and baseball/softball.
Additional sports activities identified: pickleball…track…and an indoor playground.
Director of Operations and Community Relations Jill Nelson says “The valuable feedback we received from public input sessions and community surveys will now guide the conceptual planning phase of the multi-use indoor turf and/or aquatics facility feasibility study.”
In July Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski hinted at the idea of extending a ¾ percent sales tax for so-called quality of life projects.
Consultants say the survey showed support for partnerships… philanthropy…a sales tax…user fees…and letting the facility become privately owned to fund construction.